Martinu - Rhapsody Concerto

London Symphony Orchestra - Sir Colin Davis
Barbican Hall London and Avery Fisher Hall New York :: March/April 2001
 

The Strad June 2001
"The Rhapsody Concerto was the work that first alerted me to Martinu's genius, so it has a special place in my affections. As played by Paul Silverthorne at the Barbican on 21 March, it had a particular poignancy, made up partly of Silverthorne's elegiac tone and partly of his finely judged legato line - few works for viola and orchestra sing as freely as this one and the soloist clearly comprehended every bar of his part, so that each of the three sections became a seamless whole. Not for the first time I wished the beautiful concerto were a few minutes longer." 

The Times (London) March 28 2001
"Then the LSO's fine principal viola, Paul Silverthorne, stepped forward for an equally overdue hearing of Martinu's Rhapsody-Concerto for viola and orchestra. One grave song after another was sung with revelatory eloquence." 

NY Times May 2 2001
"The Sunday program also included Martinu's Rhapsody-Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, a passionate work that narrowly avoids lugubriousness. Paul Silverthorne gave an eloquent, soulful account of its solo viola line." 

www.concertonet.com May 2 2001
LSO at Avery Fisher
"Bohuslav Martinu was a prodigiously prolific composer who spent most of his mature years in America. His gorgeous piece for viola and orchestra was written not long after that of Bartok (also in America) and it received a superb performance in the hands of the principal of the group. Not only was the soloist inspired, the essentially string orchestra accompaniment was able to produce an amazing variety of tonkunst,... Kudos to all for giving us an opportunity to hear such a luxuriant work so lovingly performed."